Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Burkina Faso is attempting one of the most ambitious agricultural transformations in Africa.
Under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the country has launched a massive drive to increase domestic food production, expand irrigation, mechanise farming and reduce its dependence on imported food.
But can Burkina Faso really achieve food self-sufficiency on the edge of the Sahara?
In this documentary, we investigate **Ibrahim Traoré’s agricultural revolution in Burkina Faso** — from irrigated rice and wheat fields to experimental apple and pineapple production, hundreds of tractors, new farming equipment and billions of CFA francs being directed towards agriculture.
At the centre of the strategy is the **Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Offensive**, launched under Traoré’s government to strengthen farming, livestock, fisheries and rural employment. The programme is targeting expanded domestic production and thousands of new jobs as Burkina Faso attempts to rethink how it feeds itself.
We also examine one of the most controversial parts of the story: **gold**.
After Burkina Faso increased state control over major gold-mining assets, the government positioned the country's mineral wealth as part of a broader strategy of economic sovereignty. But how directly can gold revenues be connected to the agricultural transformation?
And there are even bigger questions.
Can irrigation overcome the harsh climate of the Sahel? Can Burkina Faso produce enough rice to replace imports? Can farmers maintain the machinery being distributed? And are the extraordinary production figures being announced supported by independently verifiable evidence?
This is not simply a story about farming.
It is a story about **food sovereignty, natural resources, economic independence and Ibrahim Traoré’s attempt to build a new development model for Burkina Faso.**
If it succeeds, Burkina Faso could offer a powerful example of how an African country can use its own resources to strengthen domestic production.
If it fails, the economic and environmental costs could be enormous.
Watch until the end as we investigate what is really happening behind **Burkina Faso’s farming revolution**.
Subscribe to **Affluent Afrika** for documentaries exploring Africa’s economic transformation, infrastructure, business, geopolitics and the people reshaping the continent.
#BurkinaFaso #IbrahimTraore #Africa #AfricanAgriculture #Farming #Sahel #FoodSecurity #AfricanDevelopment #AffluentAfrika
Burkina Faso is attempting one of the most ambitious agricultural transformations in Africa.
Under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the country has launched a massive drive to increase domestic food production, expand irrigation, mechanise farming and reduce its dependence on imported food.
But can Burkina Faso really achieve food self-sufficiency on the edge of the Sahara?
In this documentary, we investigate **Ibrahim Traoré’s agricultural revolution in Burkina Faso** — from irrigated rice and wheat fields to experimental apple and pineapple production, hundreds of tractors, new farming equipment and billions of CFA francs being directed towards agriculture.
At the centre of the strategy is the **Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Offensive**, launched under Traoré’s government to strengthen farming, livestock, fisheries and rural employment. The programme is targeting expanded domestic production and thousands of new jobs as Burkina Faso attempts to rethink how it feeds itself.
We also examine one of the most controversial parts of the story: **gold**.
After Burkina Faso increased state control over major gold-mining assets, the government positioned the country's mineral wealth as part of a broader strategy of economic sovereignty. But how directly can gold revenues be connected to the agricultural transformation?
And there are even bigger questions.
Can irrigation overcome the harsh climate of the Sahel? Can Burkina Faso produce enough rice to replace imports? Can farmers maintain the machinery being distributed? And are the extraordinary production figures being announced supported by independently verifiable evidence?
This is not simply a story about farming.
It is a story about **food sovereignty, natural resources, economic independence and Ibrahim Traoré’s attempt to build a new development model for Burkina Faso.**
If it succeeds, Burkina Faso could offer a powerful example of how an African country can use its own resources to strengthen domestic production.
If it fails, the economic and environmental costs could be enormous.
Watch until the end as we investigate what is really happening behind **Burkina Faso’s farming revolution**.
Subscribe to **Affluent Afrika** for documentaries exploring Africa’s economic transformation, infrastructure, business, geopolitics and the people reshaping the continent.
#BurkinaFaso #IbrahimTraore #Africa #AfricanAgriculture #Farming #Sahel #FoodSecurity #AfricanDevelopment #AffluentAfrika
